Falklands : Argentine NOK Scoping Visit in Progress
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 29.08.2009 (Article Archived on 12.09.2009)
A scoping visit from the Argentine Families Commission has been taking place in the Falklands. During the visit there has been group visits to Darwin Cemetery as well as the British Cemetery at San Carlos.
Photo (c) J. Brock (FINN) Top Left to Right, Tomas Pico, Nestor Gustavo Aguirrre, Paul Martinez, Hector Cisneros Bottom Left to Right, Leandro de la Colina, Jorge Francisco Racca and Carlos Daniel Salazar.
ARGENTINE NOK SCOPING VISIT IN PROGRESS
By J. Brock (FINN)
The Scoping visitors with the First Secretary: Top Left to Right, Tomas Pico, Nestor Gustavo Aguirrre, Paul Martinez, Hector Cisneros Bottom Left to Right, Leandro de la Colina, Jorge Francisco Racca and Carlos Daniel Salazar.
A scoping visit from the Argentine Families Commission has been taking place in the Falklands. During the visit there has been group visits to Darwin Cemetery as well as the British Cemetery at San Carlos. Prayers were said by the visitors at each location. Also on the agenda was a chat with Assembly Members and Heads of Department.
Speaking at a press conference at Government House Hector Cisneros through his interpreter, Mr Tomas Pico said that there hadn’t been time to meet Falkland Islanders during this very short visit but that he had on previous visits.
He admitted that there was a special wish list in that he and his colleagues were trying to negotiate more time on the ground – about 2.5 hours – and possibly a third flight so that all of the Next of Kin could make the trip. In order to get more time at Darwin Cemetery the LAN flight would have to come earlier. At the moment the requests are being discussed and nothing is settled.
Plans for the ceremony have been finalised, with individual time at the graves, a minute’s silence and Mass with Fr Peter Norris and two Priests from Argentina who will help him. During the first Argentine Families’ Pilgrimage on the 3rd of October an Urn will be left for donations and on the 10th of October trip a statue of Our Lady the Virgin of Lujan will be left at the cemetery.
The Argentine Families’ Association are looking into the possibility of inviting a small group of British Falklands War Veterans and/or their Next of Kin to the ceremony. Mr Cisneros indicated that someone from the Argentine Families Commission had contacted Mrs Sarah Jones in the UK and put the idea to her. According to what he said through Tomas Pico, Mrs Jones was positive about the idea. He went on to say that both ceremonies and Masses were open to all from the Falklands’ community who wanted to come. Whether or not any Government House staff will attend is still under discussion. His desire is to promote good will amongst both communities and has thanked the Argentine Government, the Falkland Islands Government and HMG for making the trip possible.
When asked about the recent confusion about seats Mr Cisneros said he only heard of the problem when he was told while here. There are plans for 240 Next of Kin to come on each flight – that’s 480 in total. He went on to say that the row over seats was not in his remit and he did not want his organisation to be involved in the discussions.
Nevertheless, 190 people will not be able to travel this year unless there is a third flight laid on. If this is not possible the Families Commission want to have another pilgrimage next year for those who could not travel this year. Further to this, Mr Cisneros hopes that an annual pilgrimage could become a tradition.
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